Operating your locomotive - Lionel

Operating your locomotive
Reverse unit procedure
The electronic reverse unit inside your
Lionel locomotive acts like the transmission
in a car. When you apply power to
the track, the locomotive moves in the
direction specified by the reverse unit—or
it sits in neutral, awaiting another power
interruption. Power interruptions are the
signal that tells the reverse unit to
sequence to the next operational state.
To interrupt power and sequence the
locomotive’s reverse unit, press the direction
control button or briefly bring the
throttle lever all the way back to the OFF
position. The reverse unit alternates
between three states: forward, neutral, and
reverse.
Smoke
ON/OFF switch
Figure 2. Switch locations
ON
OFF
Also, the locomotive can be “locked” into a certain mode of operation by throwing the
reverse unit switch located on the underside of the frame (see Figure 2 above). To lock your
locomotive into a specific operational state, sequence the locomotive into the desired state and
reduce track power without completely powering down the locomotive, then throw the switch
to the OFF position. The DIRECTION button will then have no affect on the direction of the
locomotive. Slide the switch to the ON position to resume forward-neutral-reverse operation.
Additionally, this reverse unit has a “power-up reset” feature. If the locomotive sits without
power for a short period of time, the reverse unit will automatically reset and start in the forward
direction when the transformer is turned on or “powered up,” regardless of the reverse unit
switch position. If the switch is in the OFF position, the locomotive will start in the forward direction
and be “locked” there.
ON
Rear of
locomotive
OFF
Reverse unit
switch
4